Among those celebrating was a young woman who, in a court briefing, described her own abortion. “I knew what was best for my family,” she said, her voice shaking, shortly after the ruling came out June 27.

The ruling party is pushing ahead with a restriction on minors and the current abortion law—safeguarded in September–could be weakened by a decision of the country’s Constitutional Court. But for now, pro-choice activists are breathing a sigh of relief.

Spain’s failure to pass a major abortion restriction in September is far from a death knell. Anti-abortion activists in Europe have more funding, rising partisan influence and plenty of tactical lessons to borrow from the U.S. Story reported with Juhie Bhatia.

With the European Parliament elections approaching this weekend, Spain’s center-right party that introduced a controversial anti-abortion bill has yet to pass it. Anti-abortion activists are growing impatient, resorting to violence.

Take heed, non-Texans, and keep a close eye on your own statehouses unless you want to wind up like this. We are all exhausted and dreading September, when the next provision of the 2013 state legislature kicks in.

The government is likely to face difficult questions from the U.N. Human Rights Committee when it convenes in October and women across the country are already enraged. This move puts the country out of step with the majority of EU member states.

Spain may be committing to a stricter path on abortion but French lawmakers are moving to better secure women’s right to the procedure. The new French law does away with language requiring “a situation of distress.”

In Case You Missed It

It is being hailed as the most progressive state policy so far, going further than New Jersey, California and Rhode Island in various respects. But its showcase potential won’t be tested until the program gets going in 2018.